f the enemy, exhorting
your men."

"Now lads--wait for the word--dismount!" continued the captain, "and
make up your minds to pass the night where you are. Peppercorn, the
prisoners I put under your identical charge. Remember that! keep your
eyes about you. Set a guard of four men upon them; I will make you
accountable." He then added, in an under tone, "hold them safe until
to-morrow, man, and I promise you, you shall have no trouble in watching
them after that."

"You shall find them," replied Peppercorn.

"Silence," interrupted the captain; "hear my orders, and give no reply.
Now, sir, before you do anything else, call your roll, and report your
killed, wounded, and missing."

Upon this order, the dragoon directed the men, after disposing of their
horses, to form a line. He then called over the squad by their real
names, and immediately afterwards reported to his superior, who, in
order to preserve a proper dignified distance, had retreated some paces
from the group, the following pithy and soldier-like account:--

"Two men wounded, noble captain, in the late action; two missing; one
horse, saddle and bridle lost; one horse and two prisoners taken from
the enemy."

"The names of the wounded, sir?"

"Tom Dubbs and Shadrach Green; one slightly scratched, and the other
bruised by a kick from the blacksmith."

"The missing, sir?"

"Dick Waters, commonly called Marrow Bone, and Roger Bell, known in your
honor's list by the name of Clapper Claw."

"They have skulked," said the captain.

"Marrow Bone is as dead as a door nail, sir," said the orderly with
perfect indifference, and standing affectedly erect. "He fell in the
river, and the probability is that Clapper Claw keeps him company."

"What!" roared Habershaw, "have the diabolical scoundrels made away with
any of my good fellows? Have the precious lives of my brave soldiers
been poured out by the d----d rebels? By my hand, they shall feel
twisted rope, Peppercorn!--cold iron is too good for them."

"Softly, captain!" said the orderly. "You don't blame the enemy for
showing fight? We mustn't quarrel with the chances of war. There is not
often a fray without a broken head, captain. We must deal with the
prisoners according to the laws of war."

"Of Tory war, Peppercorn, aye, that will I! String the dogs up to the
first tree. The devil's pets, why didn't they surrender when we set upon
them! To-morrow: let them look out to-morrow. No words, orderly; send